This article answers that question, and leaves no doubt about it.


TUSCALOOSA | Danny Martz didn’t play football before he got to high school. He had another love.

“I played soccer growing up," said the University of Alabama’s senior offensive lineman. “I played up to my freshman year [of high school].

“I was pretty quick. I played it all my life, indoor soccer and outdoor soccer. I was a goalie."

Martz hadn’t yet grown into his present size of 6-foot-4 and 291 pounds when he was roaming the soccer fields, but he did stand out.

“I was so big, everyone said, 'Why don’t you play football?’" he said. “I haven’t played soccer in a long time. I love football now."

The native of Gaithersburg, Md., wasn’t an instant hit after making the switch. He spent a couple of years playing football at a public school, then transferred to private DeMatha Catholic, where he was a backup lineman on a state championship team his junior year. He didn’t even crack the starting lineup until he was a prep senior, and made a quantum leap to be named the team’s most valuable lineman.

“My senior year was the first time I learned how to play football," he said. “I didn’t get any [scholarship] offers until after my senior year."

Atlantic Coast Conference schools like Maryland and Georgia Tech joined the likes of Boston College in pursuit of Martz, but his options widened after Alabama showed interest.

“A lot of other SEC schools started getting interested," he said, “but as soon as Alabama looked there was no other place for me."

Martz expected to toil in anonymity as a lineman, even after winning the starting job at right guard going into his senior season. He’s learned that Alabama fans can be a little more discerning than most.

“Guys come up to you and say, 'You’re huge, you must play football,’" he said. “They notice you, especially in this town. Sometimes people in this town will come up and they know your name.

“When I first got here, I was going to come out and see what happened. I knew my time would come. It’s worked out pretty well."

With Alabama leading the SEC in rushing at more than 240 yards per game and running for 304 yards in last week’s win over Kentucky, Martz is finding out that the line is getting even more attention.

“The running backs are going to get a lot of love anyway," he said, “but you put 300 yards on the ground and people are going to notice the offensive line."

Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Dave Rader, points out that Martz, a fifth-year senior in football, has already earned his undergraduate degree in criminal justice. He’s a role model on and off the field, Rader said.

“He has the respect, I know, of not only the coaching staff, but his teammates as well," Rader said. “On top of that, he’s played very well, He makes very few mistakes, and he’s allowed us to do some things on offense."

Sophomore running back Tim Castille likes following Martz’s pulling blocks.

“He’s physical," Castille said. “I just stay patient and wait for him to clear [the path]. Once he gets his guy, I know I don’t have to worry about him."

Martz got to go to the Independence Bowl with Alabama when he was a redshirt freshman, but NCAA sanctions kept Tide players from having the incentive of postseason play the last two years. With four wins going into Saturday’s game against Southern Miss, Alabama is two victories away from qualifying for another bowl berth, a fact that isn’t lost on Martz.

“It’s a definite advantage," he said. “It’s something to look forward to. A lot of these guys on this team weren’t around when we went to the Independence Bowl. They haven’t had that chance. It’s something we all want."